Stu is considered by most to the greatest NL Hold em Poker gambler ever.
The 3 time World Poker Champion was born in New York in ‘53 and began wagering poker prior to reaching his teens.
The young gambler began betting gin and at the age of 10 had won his 1st gin rummy tournament, while on vacation with his mother and father. By the time he turned 14 the little poker genius had become a pro and stopped going to school.
In 1954 Stu Ungar entered the history books by winning $10,000 in a gin rummy tournament without dropping a single hand, a record which still stands in New York these days.
The quick talking wiz kid has been compared, in poker terms, to sporting greats such as Joe Namath and Kobe Bryant. Stu Ungar had a real talent for betting poker except despite his achievements in Texas hold’em poker, he favored playing gin.
Stu once said that there might some day be a improved NL Texas holdem gambler than him except he couldn’t see how anyone could ever be a much better gin gambler.
In ‘80 Stu was put on the global map as one of the very best Texas hold em Poker players in the globe when he was crowned World Poker Champ for the first time. Astonishingly it was the first time he had played in the tournament.
The following year he dismissed any thoughts that it had been luck, by successfully protecting his title. And in ‘97 Stu set the record by winning his 3rd World poker championship.
But this poker master also fought with drug abuse and a year following succeeding his third title Stu died in his hotel room. According to physicians, he had died from a cardiac event which was triggered by his lifestyle.
Stu Ungar had began with absolutely nothing except his skill and talent for the game which made this poker great a millionaire numerous times over.